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NCAAF Picks

College Football Picks: SMU vs. TCU Betting Odds

The TCU Horned Frogs have been one of the better home teams in college football in recent years. Saturday they’ll have to host the SMU Mustangs.

Let’s take a closer look at the NCAA
football odds for this non-conference affair at Amon G. Carter Stadium, with
the opening kickoff scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.

Throwing the ball around

SMU is 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS through three
games this season, with quarterback Garrett Gilbert pacing the country in
completing 37.7 passes per game, while also going over the 300-yard mark in
each of those contests.

The Mustangs are 0-2 SUATS as road
underdogs of 14.5 to 21 points the last two-plus seasons, while the UNDER is on
a 9-7 run when getting points in any situation.

Bouncing back

TCU is the only Big 12 Conference program
that has played two teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25 poll. They look to
improve upon their 25-8 SU record after a loss under head coach Gary Patterson.

The Horned Frogs suffered a 20-10 setback
to the Texas Tech Red Raiders as three-point road favorites Sept. 12, but did
win the statistical battle by 65 yards in that affair.

Hitting the scoreboard first

College football handicappers will want
to keep a close eye on the scoreboard in the early going, as the Mustangs are
16-0 when scoring first, but 0-15 when their opponents strike first over their
last 31 games.

It’s also important to point out that SMU
has covered four of the last five meetings in this series, while the OVER is on
a 3-1-1 run in this in-state rivalry.

Playing in front of the home fans

The Horned Frogs have outscored opponents
by an average margin of 42-16 in their last 23 home games, and they’ve gone
10-1 ATS in that type of situation when playing with rest.

TCU has a great opportunity of shutting
down SMU’s passing attack before it gets started, as it leads the Big 12 in
both sacks and interceptions.

[gameodds]6/245652/?r-1=349-19-43-192/us[/gameodds]

Prediction

I’m going to recommend that readers back
the Horned Frogs in the first half for their college football picks when, (the number is established) as the Mustangs
are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games after gaining less than 100 rushing yards
in their previous contest.

TCU will likely be sent out as 11 to
13-point favorites in this situation, as the defense will pin its ears
back and get after Gilbert.